| Reunion 2004 |
| FROM DON GRAY: Reunion plans are coming together and I wanted to get the word out to you: Your reunion committee to date is Don Gray , Rik Pugh and R.J. "Del" Del Vecchio. We hope to add to our committee as volunteers step forward. Dates August 5th ,6th ,7th and 8th Site is the Quality Inn, (the old Holiday Inn) 701 North Marine Blvd. Jacksonville, NC. 1-910-347-6111 for reservations. If we fill the place the over flow can go down the street to the Days Inn. There are 110 rooms in this hotel. and we need to book them all ASAP. This site was chosen for several reasons. It is cost efficient, clean, has suitable meeting rooms and a nice size pool deck and recreation area. The hotel is allowing us to bring in our own food and beverage which is a significant cost savings. WE NEED TO BOOK EARLY TO INSURE THAT WE HAVE THE HOTEL TO OUR SELVES. Room Rates are $49 for standard, $55 for King and $99 for suites (plus tax). Cut off date for these rates is July 15th. Saturday: 0900 will be our business meeting. The rest of the day you can take your choice. Sprae is setting up a visit to Swansboro, NC for the ladles (or anyone else that wants to go). Swansboro is a historical coastal town and there is a ferry there to take you across to an island if you want. The island has a beach to hang out on and we will have some canoes and kayaks provided by USMC recreational services for the day. The island is limited as to how many people can go there each day so we will sign up as a group to insure access. If enough people are interested we can look at chartering a bus for this trip (it's about 20 minutes away). Rik is also looking at setting up a visit to a local establishment owned by a retired. Sgt. Major. Rik says it is like a Marine Corp museum that serves beer,... sounded good to me. If you want to hang by the pool deck all day that works too. Saturday night is the banquet. We have rented a local church hall (within a mile of the hotel) a new facility with a good atmosphere for the banquet. Rik is interviewing caterers and the church will allow us to provide our own beer & wine. The cost for the banquet will be $40. Del is in the process of setting -up a photo display for the reunion. This will include some of Del's personal work (he was a combat photographer) but also your work. Dei has arranged to have a scanner on loan from USMC Cherry point along with two USMC operators at the reunion. They will scan your favorite photos on to a disc that Del will then project, onto a screen. during the reunion. This will be set up in the hospitality room for the duration of the reunion. We would like everyone to bring a picture of yourself from Nam along with a current one, These will be displayed during the reunion. This will be paid for out of donations. We need to compensate the Marines from Cherry Points for their room and meals and I am confident we can do this from donations. I hope to have a formal program out to you soon. In San Diego the membership voiced concern over the rising costs of the reunion. This year's committee has worked to reduce those costs. I sincerely hope that we have a great turn out this year. For those of you that have never attended this is not entirely an alcohol-induced weekend of war stories. It is a time to reflect upon our proud past, to break bread with those that stood beside us along with the gold star parents and brothers and sisters that come to remember their lost loved ones that died serving beside us. Semper Fi, Don Gray If you need further info call me 800 449 4729 .... 0800-1700 EST. |